Whilst I can’t speak for everyone, I know that my body reflects my mood. Stress, anxiety and general tiredness definitely manifest themselves physically for me, and no-where more so than my skin. Hello reoccurring pimple on my right cheek! How nice of you to stop by…. Again!
Being the largest organ of the body, your epidermis has plenty of room to express how it feels – good and bad. Been through a tough breakup? Your skin probably wasn’t a picture of health afterwards. A few too many reoccurring social events on weekends? Chances are your Monday face left a lot to be desired. And the same counts for work stress – often the kind our skin battles the most. Especially considering the majority of us spend the majority of our time at work!
But never fear. If your skin is showing signs of stress, look to these three easy tips for bringing a little Zen back…
Make friends with a mask
Facemasks don’t have to be a lengthy luxury. There are plenty of masks that can give your skin a super dose of goodness in under 15 minutes, like my top pick; the emerginC vitality mask. Rich and buttery, it contains co-enzyme Q10 and alpha-lipoic acid to hydrate and nourish the skin whilst soothing any irritations. This mask suits all skin types, but is particularly hardworking when applied to red, sensitive or tired skin. Simply apply a thin layer to a freshly washed face with your fingertips and leave for 10-15 minutes, which can be spent relaxing whilst reading a magazine. Or, whilst cooking a quick dinner, for those of us who are always working to a deadline!
Remember to remove your makeup
Something we are all guilty of from time to time is forgetting (or lacking the motivation!) to remove our daily face of foundation as well as all the rest before bed. This simple act can cause a whole host of skin issues such as the congestion of your pores, and promoting those blemishes and spots that are simply waiting for the chance to erupt overnight after a stress filled day. Keeping a bottle of Bioderma Crealine H2O and some cotton pads on your bedside table is a good antidote. This magnificent product cleanses skin gently, removing all makeup – even the most stubborn of mascaras – and contains cucumber extract to soothe at the same time. Lovely on stressed and tired skin! Best of all, it contains no traces of oil, so you don’t need to double cleanse.
Bid your skin a sweet slumber with a serum
Serums are one of the most potent forms of skincare, only required in small doses. This is because good serums contain active ingredients that work to the benefit of your skin. For stressed skin, look for calming ingredients, like the Indian Gooseberry and ginko biloba contained in my favourite natural serum – the Be in Awe Shaanta Night Balm. It treats skin at a cellular level whilst you are asleep, to help bring back that longed for fresh feeling come morning time. Serums are best applied prior to your moisturiser, as they are made to penetrate deeply into the skin. Dab on with fingertips to your forehead and around your outer eye area (but not too close) right before bed and let something else do all the hard work for you for a change!